Call of the North - North Country Trail Association

Fall / Winter2013
Call of the North
Volunteer Contacts for
Minn. & North Dakota:
Sheyenne River Valley Ch. Pres.
Bobby Koepplin—Valley City, ND
(701) 845-2935,
[email protected]
Dakota Prairie Ch. President
Gail Rogne—Kindred, ND
(701) 367-9410,
[email protected]
Star of the North Ch. President
Kim Fishburn—Plymouth, MN
(612) 810-3732, [email protected]
Laurentian Lakes Ch. President
Ray Vlasak—Ponsford, MN
(218) 573-3243, [email protected]
Itasca Moraine Ch. President
Bruce Johnson—Park Rapids, MN
(218) 732-8051,
[email protected]
Arrowhead Ch. President
Doug Baker—Grand Rapids, MN
(218) 327-4030, [email protected]
Local NCTA Board Members:
Tom Moberg Board Pres. (701) 2716769, [email protected]
Doug Thomas Board 1st V.P. (612) 240
-4202, [email protected]
Brian Pavek (763) 425-4195,
[email protected]
Ed Gruchalla (701) 293-1839,
[email protected]
Call of the North Editor
Stacy Davis-Detroit Lakes, MN
[email protected]
Inside this issue
Odds & Ends
LLC Chapter update
MN Guidebook update
NCT in Maplewood St. Park
STN & SRV Ch. updates
DPC Chapter update
2014 Calendar
Editor’s Note
2
2
3
3
4
5
6
6
Itasca Moraine Chapter completes the new Lake 21 loop
trail working with Americorps-NCCC crew by Bruce Johnson
With the help of the visiting AmeriCorps Team the loop trail around Lake 21 was
completed this October. All involved got a ―complete‖ trail building experience. On the
first day of work the trail to be built was flagged. Trail layout is done to exact standards
with slope and gradient being considered. DNR Forestry personnel, who accompanied us,
approved the proposed route and gave the go-ahead to start work. For those who have
bushwhacked through underbrush you will appreciate the
degree of difficulty this entails. For many on the team, from
around the USA, this was a new experience. Then, the route
was cleared of downed trees, and a 4 foot-wide by 8 foot-high
corridor was cut with a DR Brush Mower and loppers. The
next step was swamping or removal of the cut brush from the
rock and root free turned dirt that is packed down for hassle
free hiking. Four different times individual runners or a small
group of hikers stopped and thanked us for our efforts. They
assured us that our work was appreciated and the trail would
be used. This is instant gratification for the work in progress.
Not very often do trail users meet trail builders.
Continued on p.3
The Oak 4 team at work
Minnesota’s own Luke “Strider” Jordan completes his
4,600 mile North Country Trail thru-hike by Matthew Davis
On Monday, October 14th, Luke ―Strider‖ Jordan reached Crown Point State
Historic Site in NY with the bridge over Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains
in the background. This moment was the culmination of his 7-month quest to become just
the fourth person to thru-hike the North Country National Scenic Trail.
Strider didn’t stop there; however, as he became the first NCT thru-hiker to continue into Vermont and hike the proposed NCT extension. Luke hiked an additional 75
miles to reach ―Maine Junction,‖ the spot where the Appalachian Trail leaves the northsouth running Long Trail and heads east toward New
Hampshire and Maine. This was the original destination
for the North Country Trail and it may soon become the
eastern terminus. Congratulations Luke on your
awesome accomplishment! Learn more about his hike
by visiting his website at www.stridernct.com or attending
his upcoming program at the Outdoor Adventure Expo
on Sunday, November 24th at 11am.
Share your favorite hikes with us @ fb.com/NCTinMN or fb.com/NCTinND
PAGE 2
C A LL O F T HE NO R T H
Odds & Ends
The NCTA still
has copies of the new
NCT Guidebook authored
by Ron Strickland and
published by the
University of Michigan
Press for sale. The book
features 5 hikes in both
North Dakota and
Minnesota among its 40
profiled hikes.
The North
Dakota hikes include:
Lake Sakakawea,
Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, Lake Ashtabula,
Sheyenne State Forest (ND’s only waterfall!), and the
Sheyenne National Grassland.
The Minnesota hikes include: Itasca State
Park, Shingobee Recreation Area, Paul Bunyan State
Forest, and two in the Chippewa National Forest.
Pick up your copy today by visiting the NCTA’s
Trail Shop online or by calling the NCTA at 1-866HIKE-NCT.
S U MME R 2 0 1 3
Report of the Laurentian Lakes (LLC) Chapter
By Karen Stenberg, Chapter Communications Coordinator
The trail building construction season of 2013 focused
mainly on the 1895 feet along the shores of Tamarac Lake
where a causeway (a turnpike without ditches) was built so as
not to disturb any on-site cultural resources. This project
passed through a glaciated area and was difficult for many
reasons. Curbs were built through some rough terrain to hold
in the dirt and gravel mix through out the entire length. All
beams and dirt (140 yds) were brought in by wheel barrels and
hand carried which made this one of the most labor intensive
as well as expensive sections our chapter has been involved
with. It was with great satisfaction that the last load of dirt
was carried in on July 17th!
A reroute was finished near the Anchor - Matson road
on the northern part of our trail and several boardwalks were
also completed. A campsite on private land just east of the
400th Avenue trailhead was brushed out and readied for
completion. Trail adopters have started to install routed signs
identifying features along the trail. Fall hikes included the
Hiking Fest event in Itasca and a hike in Tamarac National
Wildlife Refuge. Attendance at these hikes has generally
been around 20 or more always with a few new faces.
We will continue the themed hikes in 2014 and are
optimistic that our chapter’s trail segment will be finished
through the Hubbel Pond Wildlife Management Area and
completely finished to State Hwy 34.
North Country Trail
Association Trail
Towns in Minnesota?
Talks are under way with the
City of Walker and the City of
Frazee to become the first
Trail Towns in Minnesota.
Learn more about this
relatively new NCTA program
at http://northcountrytrail.org/trail/trailtowns/.
S U MME R 2 0 1 3
C A LL O F T HE NO R T H
PAGE 3
An update on the “Guide to the North Country Trail in Minnesota”
By Susan C. Hauser and Linda Johnson, Co-Editors
The manuscript for the Guide to the North Country
National Scenic Trail in Minnesota has been sent to the
editor at the Big Earth Publishing, Trails Books & Prairie
Oak Press imprint (www.bigearthpublishing.com). Big Earth
plans a release date in Spring 2014. The guide covers the
NCT from Fort Abercrombie, ND to Jay Cooke State Park
near Duluth. It has 33 custom maps, more than 30 photographs, descriptions of the trail, and mile-by-mile descriptions for the 163.3 miles from the Tamarac National Wildlife
Refuge through the Chippewa National Forest near Remer.
The two primary goals of the guide are to provide
accurate information to hikers so they can enjoy the trail
safely and with ease, and to bring word of the trail to those
who do not know about it. A chapter on Maplewood and
Itasca State Parks alerts park visitors to the proximity of the
trail. A chapter on seasons, vegetation, animals and geology provides knowledge and encourages understanding of
the trail’s habitat. A story by Anne Dunn expresses a Native
American perspective on the forest. An Appendix on Loop
Trails (easy on, easy off) encourages those who are unfamiliar with the trail to sample it. Other appendixes offer detailed information on camping, services towns, winter use
and recommended reading.
The Itasca Moraine and Laurentian Lakes Chapters will soon be participating in a campaign to market the
guide. If you have ideas for programs to promote the guide
or know of places where the book should be made available,
please contact Matt at (701) 388-1883 or via email at
[email protected].
The editorial team, Matt Davis, Susan Carol Hauser,
Bruce M. Johnson, Linda D. Johnson and Ray Vlasak,
thanks the more than 50 volunteers who contributed to the
guide. The team also thanks Map Illustrator Todd ―Tman‖
McMahon for his map-making (see sample below), his
knowledge of the trail, and his patience with the rest of us! In
deed, ―many hands make light work,‖ and in this case also
make quality work full of essential details and heartfelt insights.
Lake 21, continued from page 1
The completed trail forms a 3.1 mile figure eight
loop trail around Lake 21 and Nelson Lake (see sample MN
Guidebook map by Todd McMahon, above right). There are
several scenic overlooks as the trail meanders through the
mixed deciduous forest along the pristine lakes. Both Gulch
the Lake Campground and the day
ITM Chapter volunteers and
the Americorps-NCCC’s Oak use area are managed by Lake
4 Team pose by part of the Bemidji State Park.
finished trail
For directions and more
information, contact the DNR at
(218) 308-2300 or visit
www.dnr.state.mn.us/
state_forests/facilities/cmp00037/
index.html. The NCTA welcomes
people to check out this new
family-friendly hiking destination!
The NCT will soon be marked through Maplewood State Park near Pelican Rapids
Through work on the MN guidebook project, it became
clear that the time was right to officially develop the NCT
through Maplewood State Park. It is the one large block
of public land between Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
and the North Dakota border. The trail’s route will be ~3
miles in length and features two
backcountry campsites, rugged
hills, great views, and beautiful
maple forests. It will be signed
next spring and officially unveiled next year on National
Trails Day (June 7th).
PAGE 4
C A LL O F T HE NO R T H
S U MME R 2 0 1 3
Get to know your fellow members: Kim Fishburn, new President of
the Star of the North (STN) Chapter
Since many of you don't know me I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce
myself. I'm originally from Iowa but joined the Air Force shortly after graduation from High
School. I spent a short period in South Dakota before being sent to California. It was there
that I first started backpacking. My first hike was with a friend in Yosemite, and after that I was
off on my own. I managed to hike all over the state, and hiked about 2/3rds of Yosemite's trails, and chased of some of
Yosemite's best bears. After retiring from the Air Force, I completed college before making my way to Minneapolis when I
realized it was a great bicycle town, and close to the north woods. I had gone canoeing in the Boundary Waters after
graduating from High School, meeting Dorothy Molter, The Root Beer Lady. I thought it would be nice to be able to go
back, however, on my first trip back it just didn't feel like it had that wilderness feel with all the people. I started hiking on
the Superior Hiking Trail, and found out about the new trail construction taking place on weekends. After one weekend
doing volunteer work I was hooked. I returned again the next year, and again the next year. I ended up helping complete
the last 50 miles of the trail to connect the two ends, and maintained the Bean & Bear Lake section several years. If you
saw me on a hike I probably had a saw and loppers along. I've hiked most of the Superior Hiking Trail twice with the
exception of the Duluth Section, which I really want to hike.
The past few years I've been doing SHT presentations at the local outdoor stores (as well as Yosemite), and tried
to get people interested in doing volunteer work on the SHT, as well as the North Country Trail. If anyone has any interest
in a hike in the Sierras (or New Zealand where I hiked the Able Tasman Track) I'd be happy to help you plan. I'm a
moderator on a group about the John Muir Trail. There are a lot of hikes that can be accomplished using public
transportation to get around the Sierras. Recently, I started bugging Matt Davis about opportunities to do weekend trail
construction now that the SHT is mostly complete. I guess I bugged him enough that he thought I might be a good
candidate for President of the Star of the North Chapter. I've got a lot to learn, and I'm always ready to listen.
One thing about the Star of the North Chapter is that its hard to do day hikes on our section of trail since its so far
away. I found out that Ed Solstad had already set up the Twin Cities Hiking Meetup group that includes a lot of members
from MN Rovers. Rather than start something new I decided to join it, and I encourage everyone else to join. I plan on
leading some hikes, and would love to find someone that knows about the history along the Mississippi River that might
lead hikes. I'm looking forward to doing weekend trail work, and sitting around the campfire with others, and meeting
others on the trail.
Report of the Sheyenne River Valley (SRV) Chapter
By Bobby Koepplin, Chapter President
The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter has been busy. Here are some of our recent accomplishments:
We continued our work on securing private landowner easements from the Sheyenne State Forest to Lake Ashtabula
Built and signed approximately 4 miles of new trail which included several stiles, re-routed approximately one half mile
of existing trail, and made signage, benching and rock removal improvements on approximately 1.5 miles of trail.
 Installed a 24 foot Boardwalk for better accessibility to the only registered waterfall in North Dakota on the NCT in the
Sheyenne State Forest. This was the fourth and final boardwalk and it accompanied three small re-routes to avoid
low, wet segments that were continually being destroyed by horse traffic.
 Special events in addition to our monthly event calendar included a Doosan/Bobcat Wellness Hike to Waterfall. A huge
number of employees and their families attended.
Here are some things we’ve got in the works for 2014...
 Jerry Warner, an active SRV Member and Engineering Tech at Bobcat in Gwinner has a
pending request for seasonal use of a walk behind Bobcat machine for the North Dakota
NCT Trail builders to use.
 Also, currently working with the ND Parks & Recreation Department on potential leveraging of Heritage Funds for future NCT development in North Dakota.


S U MME R 2 0 1 3
Dakota Prairie Chapter Update
C A LL O F T HE NO R T H
PAGE 5
By Gail Rogne, Chapter President
The newly reactivated and renamed Dakota Prairie Chapter has been becoming
increasingly active in the past year. Besides getting a new Charter and By-laws approved,
we have had several outings and trail building events. We went on a snowshoe hike on the
new trails at the Ekre Preserve last winter after celebrating the opening of the trails last fall.
Then in June, we were led on the new 4 mile Oak Loop Trail by Bryan Stotts, District Ranger for the Sheyenne National
Grasslands, who talked about the history of the surrounding area and showed us where the Dakota Prairie Chapter section
of the NCT trail is expected to connect with the new Oak Loop Trail. This was our most well attended hike as there were
over 25 people enjoying nature and beautiful scenery. We have had two hikes along the railroad right of way portion of the
NCT between Colfax and Walcott. We have also enjoyed two urban strolls in the Fargo/Moorhead area before our
monthly meetings in Fargo. Thus, for the past six months, we have had at least one activity each month and hope to continue this including meeting every month. We were very pleased with the increase in our membership with the new member e-rate offered this summer--we were told we had the highest percentage increase of all the NCT chapters. We are
planning a special social event for our members for the holidays. We look forward to an exciting and productive year with
a growing group of outdoor enthusiasts.
Trail Development Activities of the Dakota Prairie Chapter in 2013
By Tom Moberg, Ch. V.P.
The trail territory of the new Dakota Prairie Chapter lies between the border of North Dakota at the Red River and
the town of Lisbon in the Sheyenne River valley. As the crow flies, that distance is about 50 miles. If the crow is carrying
a backpack and walking, the distance is quite a bit more. Because there is so little public land in North Dakota, finding
places to put real hiking trails is a huge challenge. Up until recently, the only existing segment of the North Country
National Scenic Trail in our area was about 28 miles in the Sheyenne National Grasslands that was built by the Forest
Service. The rest of the route in southeast North Dakota had always been long, boring road walks on tar roads, often
without shoulders.
Like our friends and colleagues in the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, members of the DP Chapter have been
working to find both off-road trail possibilities and better on-road options on quiet country roads. We now have an 80 mile
draft route laid out in our area that initially includes about 42 miles of off-road trail (including 29 miles in the SNG), 33 miles
of gravel roads, and less than 5 miles of hard-surface roads. The route passes through the small towns of Abercromie,
Colfax, Walcott, and Lisbon, and includes several new primitive campsites. As time goes on, we think it will be possible to
replace many of the road walks with new sections of off-road trail. It will be great to offer a better route to people who want
to hike across this part of North Dakota
The Chapter is working with the North Dakota State Historical Society to establish the eastern terminus of the
NCNST in North Dakota at the Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site, the ―Gateway to the Dakotas.‖ To quote the Fort
website: ―…Fort Abercrombie was the first permanent United States military fort established in what was to become North
Dakota. It was also the only post in the area to be besieged by Dakota (Sioux) warriors for more than six weeks during the
Dakota conflict of 1862. … The fort guarded the oxcart trails of the later fur trade era, military supply wagon trains,
stagecoach routes, and steamboat traffic on the Red River. It also was a supply base for two major gold-seeking
expeditions across Dakota into Montana. Fort Abercrombie served as a hub for several major transportation routes
through the northern plains.‖ One of our route design principles is to closely follow the old Fort Abercrombie – Fort
Ransom military road, so it seems right both practically and symbolically for hikers on the NCNST to cross the Red River
at Fort Abercrombie.
The onset of winter is shutting down this trail building season. But in spite of a wet spring, Chapter members, Boy
Scouts, and other volunteers were able to continue tread smoothing in the RRV&W railroad corridor, install signage in
many locations, build several substantial boardwalks, mow the off-road trail sections multiple times, and continue
developing relationships with landowners. Over the winter, we intend to pursue some grant opportunities, continue
scouting possible off-road routes, try to obtain several trail easements, and make plans for work days and trail events next
summer.
2014 activities schedule

November 22-24: Outdoor Adventure Expo—Minneapolis, MN
January 11: Winter Trails Day
 DPC Chapter event at Buffalo River State Park—Glyndon, MN
 LLC Chapter event at Maplelag Resort—Callaway, MN
 ITM Chapter & Chippewa National Forest event at Shingobee—
Walker, MN
 February 8: LLC Chapter snowshoe hike in Greenwater Lake SNA—Ponsford, MN
 March 8: LLC Chapter snowshoe hike at Itasca State Park—Park Rapids, MN
 March 22: ITM Chapter Spring Equinox snowshoe hike—TBD
 April 26: LLC Chapter spring hike in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)—Rochert, MN
 May 2-4: SHTA’s Annual Meeting at Wolf Ridge—Finland, MN
 May 17: LLC Chapter nature hike in Tamarac NWR—Rochert, MN
 May 17: ITM Chapter Wildflower hike—TBD
June 7: National Trails Day
 ARW Chapter Guided Hike—Grand Rapids, MN
 LLC Chapter hike in Tamarac NWR and dinner—Rochert, MN
 ITM Chapter hike—TBD
 NCT Grand Opening at Maplewood State Park—Pelican Rapids, MN
 SHTA Guided Hike—TBD
 June 20: ITM Chapter Mid-week Resort Hike—TBD
 June 22-28: Volunteer Vacation on the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest—Remer, MN
 July 13-19: Volunteer Vacation on the NCT in the Sheyenne National Grassland—Kindred, ND
 July 26: LLC Chapter history hike—Frazee, MN
 August 1: ITM Chapter Mid-week Resort Hike—TBD
 August 21-23: NCTA Minnesota Hiking Celebration at Spirit Mountain—Duluth, MN
 September 21: ITM Chapter Fall is All hike—TBD
Chapter and Affiliate Group
Abbreviations:
ARW = Arrowhead Chapter
BRTA = Border Route Trail Assoc.
DPC = Dakota Prairie Chapter
ITM = Itasca Moraine Chapter
KTC = Kekekabic Trail Club
LLC = Laurentian Lakes Chapter
SHTA = Superior Hiking Trail Assoc.
SRV = Sheyenne River Valley Ch.
STN = Star of the North Chapter
Get connected with the
NCTA via social media…
meetup.com/Red-River-Valley-Outdoors/ —
Fargo-Moorhead area
meetup.com/HikeNCTinMN/ — Laurentian
Lakes Chapter area
meetup.com/Chip-NCT-hikers/ — Itasca
Moraine & Star of the North areas
meetup.com/Arrowhead-NCT-hikers/ —
Arrowhead Chapter area
facebook.com/NCTinMN — NCTA in
Minnesota Facebook site
facebook.com/ArrowheadReRoute —
Arrowhead Re-route Facebook site
facebook.com/NCTinND—NCTA in North
Dakota Facebook site
September 27: 1st Annual North Country National Scenic Trail Day
 DPC Chapter’s section hike/bike from Abercrombie to Lisbon, ND
 Leaf Days guided hike at Maplewood State Park (and 9/28, 10/4, and
10/5)
 ITM Chapter Fall Autumnal Equinox & Color Hike—TBD
 LLC Chapter’s Fall Color hike—Ponsford, MN
 October 5: 8th Annual North Country Hiking Fest & 14th Annual Hike for Hope—
Itasca St. Park
 October 18: LLC Chapter Fall Hike in Tamarac NWR—Rochert, MN
Editor’s Note by Stacy Davis
As I read through this season’s newsletter, it was exciting to learn about
what is going on in North Dakota in addition to what continues to happen in
Minnesota. Hopefully, this change to the newsletter will help reach even
more people with all the happenings and volunteer opportunities on the
North Country Trail in our region. Welcome, to all of our new readers!
Happy (and bug free!) Winter Hiking! (Photo at right: our daughter Clara
and family friend Rachel enjoy the NCT during a Tree Trek this summer)
Trail partner contacts:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
~~~
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